Carol Jean (Mehlin) Nanninga, 75, of Humboldt, Nebraska was born June 7, 1937, in Humboldt, Nebraska to Claude and Nora (Clark) Mehlin. She grew up on her family farm North of Humboldt and attended Bratton Union Consolidated School. Carol Jean graduated from Bratton Union with the class of 1954. She then attended Peru State Normal School and Teachers College where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. On July 3, 1960, Carol Jean was united in marriage to Charles D. “Chuck” Nanninga. To this union four children, Brett, Julie, Rod, and Kip were born. The couple lived in Livingston, California in 1960 and then moved back to Humboldt, Nebraska in June of 1961. Carol Jean was a Kindergarten teacher and an elementary music teacher. She loved to teach and was gifted at creating unique music programs for elementary children. Her creativity also spread to sewing, crafts, gardening, and baking. Carol Jean was well-known for her delicious cinnamon roll and fried chicken. Carol and Chuck enjoyed bowling, golf, and playing cards with family, as well as dancing with the Shuffles and Ruffles Square Dance Club in Auburn, Nebraska for many years. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she spent weeks decorating the house and baking cookies that she would deliver to friends and neighbors. While her kids were in school she never missed one of their activities. Carol could often be heard yelling “Go Cardinals!” from the bleachers as she kept stats at every game. She was a devoted wife and mother and never complained about the task of keeping her household running. Most importantly, Carol Jean loved the Lord. She trusted Jesus as her Savior during a Lay Witness Mission in 1971 and spent the rest of her life serving Him. She was a student of the Word and a woman of prayer. Carol Jean taught Sunday school, led youth group, and held various church offices. She participated in several mission trips and was frequently called upon to sing at weddings and funeral services. Carol Jean was currently a member of Northridge Church in Sabetha, Kansas.

Carol Jean passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2012, at the Community Medical Center in Falls City, Nebraska having reached the age of seventy-five years, and twenty-one days. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Don and Robert Mehlin, and a grandson Gabriel Showalter.

Carol Jean is survived by her loving husband Charles “Chuck” Nanninga of Humboldt, NE; four children: Brett (Sally) Nanninga of Minden, IA; Julie (Jonathan) Showalter of Oakland, IA; Rod (Tara) Nanninga of rural Humboldt, NE; Kip (Pearl) Nanninga of Austin, TX; great-grandchildren: Laura, Amy, and Matt Nanninga of Minden, IA; Victoria, Morgan, and Sophia Showalter of Oakland, IA; Ashton, Grant, and Lauren Nanninga of rural Humboldt, NE; Josiah, Micah, Eli, and Susie Nanninga of Austin, TX; a brother Merle Mehlin and his wife Marlene of Humboldt, NE; a sister Connie Root of Auburn, NE; and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Graveside Memorial Services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday, August 9,2012, at the Pleasant View Cemetery Northeast of Humboldt, Nebraska with Pastor Kip Nanninga officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the family’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.wherrymortuary.com Wherry Mortuary-Humboldt, Nebraska (402) 862-2915